Good evening, everyone.

"Imagine a legal document where one misplaced comma or awkward phrase

changes the entire meaning—and could cost millions or even freedom. That’s the power of grammar and
usage in legal writing. Unlike everyday writing, legal texts demand razor-sharp precision, where every
word and punctuation mark matters. Today, we’re diving into how mastering grammar isn’t just about
sounding polished—it’s about protecting rights, shaping justice, and making sure the law says exactly
what it means.
Legal writing isn't just about knowing the law; it's about communicating it clearly, accurately, and
persuasively. Grammar serves as the foundation for this clarity. Whether you're drafting a motion, writing
a brief, or preparing a contract, the way you use language can either strengthen your argument or create
confusion.
In this presentation, we'll explore why grammar matters in legal writing, common grammatical pitfalls to
avoid, and how mastering these rules can enhance both the professionalism and effectiveness of your
legal documents. Let's begin."

PURPOSE: The ability to apply the basic rules of grammar in legal writing is essential for producing
documents that are precise, clear, and authoritative. In the legal field, even a small grammatical error can
lead to ambiguity, misinterpretation, or unintended legal consequences. Mastery of grammar ensures that
legal arguments are logically structured, statutory language is interpreted correctly, and contractual terms
are unambiguous. Whether drafting pleadings, contracts, or legal opinions, a strong command of grammar
enhances credibility and ensures that the writer’s intent is clearly and accurately conveyed.
ESSENCE: Grammar is the backbone of effective communication, especially in legal writing where
precision is critical.
Clarity in Communication:
In legal writing, clarity isn't just a stylistic preference—it's a necessity. A grammatically sound sentence
leaves little room for confusion, helping the reader immediately grasp the intended message. Proper use
of punctuation, sentence structure, and verb tenses eliminates vagueness, allowing complex legal
arguments or instructions to be understood exactly as intended.
Professionalism in Legal Documents:
Grammar also plays a key role in upholding professionalism. Legal documents often reflect on the
competence and credibility of the writer. Errors in grammar can make a document appear careless or
unpolished, which can undermine the authority of the legal argument or even affect the outcome of a case.
Clear, grammatically correct writing signals attention to detail, respect for the reader, and mastery of legal
communication.
Avoiding Ambiguities:
Perhaps most importantly, grammar helps eliminate ambiguity—a critical concern in the legal field. A
misplaced comma, an unclear pronoun, or an improperly constructed sentence can alter the meaning of a
clause or create loopholes.
SUBJECT VERB AGREEMENT:
In this lecture, we will focus specifically on understanding the concept of subject-verb agreement. This is
a fundamental grammatical rule that requires the subject of a sentence to match its verb in both number
(singular or plural) and person (first, second, or third).
While this may seem basic, subject-verb agreement is one of the most common sources of error in
writing, and its impact goes beyond grammar—it directly affects the clarity and precision of a message. In
everyday communication, a minor disagreement between a subject and its verb may be overlooked.
However, in legal writing, such an error can create confusion, weaken an argument, or even lead to
misinterpretation of a legal provision or contractual term.
By mastering this rule, legal writers ensure their work is not only grammatically correct but also precise,
professional, and unambiguous.

1. One of the most fundamental rules in grammar is that a singular subject takes a singular verb,
and a plural subject takes a plural verb. Though this rule may seem elementary, its application
in legal writing is both critical and consequential.
In legal documents such as pleadings, contracts, and judicial affidavits, clarity is not optional — it is
mandatory. The legal profession relies heavily on precise and unambiguous language to convey
obligations, rights, and facts. A violation of subject-verb agreement, even a minor one, can:
 Distort meaning, creating uncertainty about who is performing an action.
 Undermine credibility, suggesting carelessness or lack of attention to detail.
 Weaken enforceability, especially in contracts or declarations, where terms must be
unambiguous to be binding.
🔹 Examples in Legal Context:
 ✅ Ana files a case against Joseph.
→ "Ana" is singular, so the verb "files" ends in -s. This reflects one individual initiating legal
action.
 ✅ The witnesses arrive in the courtroom.
→ "Witnesses" is plural, so the base form "arrive" is used. This suggests that multiple individuals
are present, which can significantly affect a case.
A slight error — for example, writing “The witnesses arrives” — could:
 Confuse the court as to how many people actually testified.
 Lead to contradictions with other parts of the document.
 Reduce the credibility of the affidavit or motion, particularly in formal court filings.
🔹 Legal Interpretation Risks:
Courts are tasked with interpreting texts as written, not as intended. If grammar suggests one thing but
the drafter meant another, the legal effect may be entirely different.

Another rule: singular indefinite pronouns take -s form of the verb

What Are Indefinite Pronouns?
Indefinite pronouns refer to non-specific people or things. Even though they might sound like they refer
to multiple people, some of them are grammatically singular.

Singular Indefinite Pronouns

Words like:
 Each, either, neither, everyone, anybody, no one, nothing
are always singular and must take singular verbs.

“Each” is a singular indefinite pronoun, even though it's referring to multiple witnesses.
Therefore, it takes the singular verb “testifies” (not “testify”).

Plural indefinite pronouns refer to non-specific people or things, but are grammatically plural, so they
take the base (plural) form of the verb — without -s.

 Several” is a plural indefinite pronoun.

 It refers to more than one unnamed person.
 Therefore, the verb must be in the base form: “file” (not files).
2. "Few accept the court’s decision."
✅ Correct usage:
 “Few” is also plural.
 The verb “accept” is correctly in the base form.

Indefinite pronouns such as all, none, some, and most are flexible in number.
They can be singular or plural, depending on the noun they refer to.
- If the noun is uncountable, use a singular verb.
- If the noun is countable/plural, use a plural verb.
Countable Nouns
These are things you can count individually — they have both singular and plural forms.
✅ Examples:
 witness / witnesses
 document / documents
You can say:
 "One witness," "Two witnesses"
 "A document," "Several documents"

🔹 Uncountable Nouns
These are things you cannot count individually — they usually do not have a plural form.
They refer to ideas, substances, or abstract concepts.
✅ Examples:
 evidence
 information

o Some of the documents are gone. “Documents” are countable

o Some of the money was stolen. “money” in this sentence is uncountable

A compound subject is made up of two or more nouns or pronouns connected by a coordinating

conjunction — most often "and".
When two or more subjects are joined by "and", they usually form a plural subject, which takes a
plural verb.
We must remember this formula: Subject + and + Subject = Plural → Use a plural verb.

 “The plaintiff and the defendant” is a compound subject connected by the conjunction “and.”
 This structure makes the subject plural because it refers to two separate individuals involved in
a legal dispute.
 The verb “agree” is in the plural form to match the plural subject.

 But Be Careful: Exceptions Exist

 There are times when a conjunctive compound subject is treated as singular, such as:
 🟨 1. When the two nouns refer to a single thing or idea:
 "Fish and chips is my favorite meal."
→ One meal, not two separate items → singular verb
 "Bread and butter is served at breakfast."
→ Treated as one item → singular verb

 2. When the subject is preceded by “each” or “every”:

 "Each judge and lawyer has a role to play."
→ “Each” makes the subject singular → verb is has

What does this mean?

1. “Each” and subject-verb agreement
 Usually, “each” is singular because it refers to individual members of a group separately.
o Example: Each student is responsible.

o Here, the verb “is” agrees with “each” (singular).

2. When the subject itself is plural and “each” comes after

 Sometimes, you have a plural subject (more than one thing/person), and then “each” is added
after the subject, often to emphasize individuality.
 In this case, the verb agrees with the plural subject, not with “each.”
1. Subject:
 The contracting parties — this is a plural subject because “parties” is plural (more than one
party).
2. “Each” placement:
 Here, “each” comes after the plural subject.
 It emphasizes that every individual party, among the plural group, has something individually.
3. Verb agreement:
 The verb is “have”, which is plural, agreeing with the plural subject “parties.”
 Even though “each” refers to individuals within the group, the verb agrees with the plural subject,
not with “each.”

What does this mean?

1. Adjectives usually describe nouns — for example, “rich people,” “poor children,” “wicked
men.”
2. When preceded by “the” and standing alone, these adjectives act like nouns — that is, they
represent entire groups or classes of people who share that characteristic.
o Examples:

 The rich = all rich people as a group.

 The poor = all poor people as a group.
 The wicked = all wicked people as a group.
3. Because they refer to groups of people, they are treated as plural nouns even though they are
adjectives by form.

How does this affect grammar?

 When adjectives are used this way, verbs and pronouns referring to them must be plural,
because they stand for multiple individuals.

Examples explained:
 The poor need support from the government.
o “The poor” means all poor people.

o The verb “need” is plural because “the poor” refers to many individuals.

 The wicked are punished for their deeds.

o “The wicked” means all wicked people.

o The verb “are” is plural, and “their” is plural pronoun, agreeing with the plural group.

Why is this important?

 It allows adjectives to function as collective nouns.
 Instead of repeating “people” or “individuals” after the adjective, English allows this shortcut.
 This construction is common and natural when speaking about social classes, moral qualities, or
groups defined by characteristics.